Background: Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most prevalent types of nutritional disorder in the world. Its etiology is multifaceted and it generally results when the iron demands of the body are not met by iron absorption. Iron deficiency anemia can be symptomatically compared with Pandu Roga in Ayurveda.

Aims and objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Punarnavadi Mandura and Dadimadi Ghrita in patients suffering from iron deficiency anemia.

Materials and methods: A prospective, open-label multicenter study was carried out at three peripheral centers of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences. One hundred three patients satisfying the selection criteria were enrolled from the outpatient department of these centers and were administered Punarnavadi Mandura (500 mg) and Dadimadi Ghrita (10 gm) t wice d aily before food with lukewarm water for 12 weeks. Follow-up was done finally after 2 weeks without medication. However, data of 90 patients were used for analysis. Hematological parameters, viz., hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, packed cell volume, total iron-binding capacity, serum ferritin, and serum iron, were assessed at baseline, 42nd day, and at the end of the treatment period of 12 weeks (i.e., 84th day). Paired sample t-test was used to compare mean change from baseline with the 84th day. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: At the end of 12 weeks, c ompared w ith b aseline, statistically significant increase was observed in mean serum iron level (p-value = 0.005). However, mean change from baseline to 84th day in hemoglobin level (p-value = 0.325) was not significant. A significant improvement in symptoms of anemia, such as weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and headache, was also seen. The treatment was found to be safe and effective in the patients with iron deficiency anemia as all the safety parameters were within the stipulated range. No adverse drug reaction or adverse events were reported during the trial period.

Conclusion:Punarnavadi Mandura and Dadimadi Ghrita administered together in the above-mentioned dose were found effective and safe in patients suffering from iron deficiency anemia.